Not really DIRECTLY relating to robotics, but for a beginner's introduction to PICs and programming them, I got a lot out of "PIC Microcontroller Project Book", by John Iovine. After the very basics of setting up the programmer (Epic), the software, the PIC command set and how to write some code, it goes on to cover sensors and motor control, so it's a pretty easy step from this book to robot building.

when i recomend these books i must seem very noob, but they are really good beginner (i mean begginer as dont know what a diode does) books.Bugbots, Junkbots, and bots on weels.and Robot Building for beginners by dave cook

DEFINITELY LOOK THIS BOOK UP!Robot builder's sourcebook- over 2500 sources for robot partsPLUS! over 250 special mini- articles-handy tips-finding the best deals-product and company reviewsYes, the name is:Robot Builders SourcebookBy Gordon McComb Yes that's right- the same guy who wrote ROBOT BUILDER'S BONANZA!Buy Buy Buy today!-phewMega

This book is outdated, but since it covers general information at the beginner's level, it is still relevant. You can find used copies of the first edition (ISBN 1568810113) and the second edition (ISBN 1568810970) at Amazon.com. (That's how I got my copy).

This book uses Lego, but it contains mostly general information that is applicable to any robot. I think that many schools may be using this book. (I don't own a copy: I just borrowed this from my local library.)

Well, I'm not advanced, so I haven't actually read this one. But someone recommended this to me as one of the better "modern" robot books. It's co-written by the leader of the team that won the DARPA Grand Challenge.

I would like to recommend "Programming in C, Third Edition" By Stephen G. Kochan, It provides a very easy to follow way to learn C and it tests you at the end of each chapter to make sure you weren't skimming or somehow forgot what you read five minutes ago .

Also on a side note this book is more for the Linux/Unix user as it calls for the use of the terminal.

flesh and machines by rodney a brooksgreay read if you want to learn the history of robotics. will not teach you robotics thoughsomewhat outdated but still great

I read that book like ~7 years ago, I wasn't too impressed with it. I felt it was the authors brag book: "I'm awesome and I invented all this stuff, but no one else agreed because they don't know anything. They are wrong, I'm awesome."

He had a few gems of useful knowledge in the book, and it was informative from the sense of what academic robotics engineering was like 15 years ago, but it's definitely not in my top 10 list . . . Some of the ideas in the book got me thinking about various things, and they were good ideas for the time. But me being much more experienced today, many of the robotics programming concepts he proposes I consider simply wrong and oversimplified.

The book came out before he got filthy rich with iRobot . . . so maybe if he comes out with a new 'lessons from running a robotics company' book I'd buy it asap . . .

Check out 'Robot Wireless Control Made Simple with Python and C', sold on Amazon. Instructions on loading Python, building a control center on the PC, virtual and real robot are detailed. C and Python source code included. Over 200 illustrations. Wiring diagrams also included. Walks through process from a beginner level to the completed remote controlled robot.